by MustBTVDay nine of furlough. I woke at 0545 — not because of an alarm, not because of the dog, not because of some patriotic sense of purpose… but simply because my body decided that sleep is optional now. Who knows why. Maybe the government shut down my circadian rhythm too.
Breakfast was a Venti White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks — the official fuel of overworked officers and temporarily unemployed civilians alike. It tasted like warm motivation and mild financial regret.
Despite the furlough, Air Command and Staff College continues to march on. Homework doesn’t care about paychecks or politics. The readings stare back at me like a superior officer wondering why I’m still in pajama pants. I told myself I’d just “review a few notes,” and three hours later I’d written a small dissertation on leadership theory and the proper caffeine-to-focus ratio.
Mittens spent the morning inspecting the desk, possibly for academic integrity violations. Tabby declared herself study supervisor but quickly fell asleep on my notes. Remington maintained patrol in the hallway, intercepting a rogue sock with extreme prejudice. Truly, discipline remains strong in the Living Room Republic.
Curly and Moe are running fine — for now. Curly has taken to flashing random notifications like a rebellious cadet testing the chain of command. Moe, ever the teacher’s pet, remains smooth, smug, and silent.
Morale check: steady. The caffeine levels are operational, the coursework is progressing, and the household remains secure. I may be furloughed, but the mission continues — powered by espresso and stubbornness.
